Cut-out switch



A. W. HOUCHIN.

CUT-OUT SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 22. 1914. RENEWED FEB. 1.1916.

1 1 95,472. Patented Aug. 22, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

EDI-=1 Witnesses QM mm A. W. HOUCHIN.

CUT-OUT SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 22. 1914. RENEWED FEB. 1.1916.

Patented Aug. 22, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALFRED W. HOUCHIN, OF KIBKWOOD, NEW JERSEY.

CUT-OUT SWITCH.

Application filed June 22, 1914, Serial No. 846,606.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED W. HoUoHIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kirkwood, in the county of Camden and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cut-Out Switches; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in electric switches and. more particularly to those which are automatically moved to inoperative position when the current flowing therethrough is checked.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a device of this character in connec' tion with an electric generator whereby the magnetism of one of the'field magnets of the generator may be employed for the purpose of actuating a catch to be described.

A secondary object of the invention is to construct the device in an extremely simple and inexpensive manner.

lVith these objects in view, the invention resides in certain novel features of construction and combination herein described and claimed and shown in the drawings wherein Figure 1 is a plan view of a switch constructed in accordance with my invention and illustrating a portion of its support; Fig. 9 is a vertical longitudinal section taken along the plane of the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, the switch arm being raised; Fig. 3 is a similar view with the switch arm lowered and showing the catch in operative position; and Fig. 1 is a transverse section taken along the plane of the line 44 of Fig. 3.

In the accompanying drawings, I have shown my invention as employed in connection with an electric generator 1 which includes a field coil 52, a core 3 therein and field magnet ft which is energized by said core and coil. As clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the magnet 4: projects laterally from the core 3 and is provided with a curved nose 5, the under side of which is provided with an arcuate recess 6 for the reception of a rotating armature (not shown). The externally curved portion of the nose 5 is provided with an extension or boss 7 which is preferably formed integrally with the magnet 4 and which is necessarily constructed of magnetizable material. This Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 22, 1916.

Renewed February 1, 1916. Serial No. 75,625.

boss or extension 7 acts as an independent magnet for retracting a catch operating armature in a manner to be described.

Rigidly supported above the generator 1 and preferably by suitable legs 8, is a switch board 9 from which a pair of pivot posts 10 rise, the posts forming pivotal supports for a pair of switch arms or blades 11 which are connected thereto intermediate their ends. The rear ends of the members 11 are preferably inclined slightly upwardly and connected by a transverse insulating block 12, the latter being provided with a hook 18 from which a coil spring 14 depends and has its lower end attached to an eye bolt 15 which passes through the switch board 9 and is provided with a nut 16 by the op eration of which the tension of the spring 14: may be regulated. It will thus be seen that the forward ends of the switch arms 11 are normally raised or retracted, until they disengage a pair of resilient jacks 17.

As most clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the jacks 17 include upright standards 18 which are provided with longitudinally extending cars 19, the latter being notched in their outer ends to receive studs 20 which project outwardly from contact plates 21, coil springs 22 being interposed between said plates and the cars 19, thereby acting to normally force said plates 21 into contact but allowing the same to recede when the plates 11 are forced downwardly between said plates. The forward ends of the members 11 are connected by a transverse block 23 which is preferably formed of insulating material and is provided with a forwardly projecting lip or flange 2 1, said flange c0- acting with a catch now to be described.

Pivotally supported upon the switch board 9, is a catch 25 which is in the form of a bell crank lever having one arm 26 disposed in a substantially horizontal plane with its outer extremity overlying a guide opening 27 formed through said switch board, while its remaining arm 28 is pro vided with an inwardly extending nose 29 which co-acts with the flange 2 1 -tor the purpose of retaining the switch mei'nbers 11 in operative position. As clearly shown in the drawings, the catch is provided with a coil spring 30 which normally retracts the same, said spring being secured at one end to the arm 28 while its opposite end is at tached to a hook 31, the latter having a shank 32 which projects slidably through the switch board 9 and is provided with an adjusting nut 33 by means of which the tension of the spring 30 may be varied.

It may here be explained that the switch mechanism, so far described, is necessary only when the generator 1 is operating and that the spring 30 is allowed to retract the catch to allow the spring 1% to move the switch arms 11, to inoperative position, when, for any reason, operation of the generator is suspended. It will therefore be seen that it becomes expedient to provide means for retaining the switch arms in operative position while the generator is in use. For this purpose, I have provided an armature 34 which is located adjacent the boss or extension 7 and which is rigidly carried upon the lower end of a link 35, the latter being slidably engaged with the opening 27 and pivotally connected at 36 to the free end of the arm 26. It will therefore be seen that operation of the generator, energizing or magnetizing the field magnet el, will likewise magnetize the extension 7, thereby causing the same to attract the armature 3% which, through the instrumentality of the link 35, will rock the catch 25 around its pivot to allow its nose 29 to be engaged with the flange 24, when the switch is closed, thereby allowing the current, flowing through wires 37, connected to the pivot posts 10, to pass through the switch arms 11 and through the acks .17 from which it continues to flow through suitable current conducting wires 38 which are electrically connected to said jacks.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that should operation of the generator be suspended, the extension 7 will no longer be magnetized thereby allowing the spring to retract the catch 25 whereupon the spring 1% will raise or retract the switch arms 11 thus breaking the circuit, the expediency of this being well understood to those familiar with the art to which the invention relates.

I have described my invention with considerable minuteness but I do not wish to be limited to details other than those amplified in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by U. S. Letters Patent is:

2. The combination with an electric generator having a partially exposed field magnet, of a switch board adjacent thereto, a spring retracted circuit closer movably mounted on said switch board, a spring retracted catch for locking said circuit closer in operative position, and an armature carried by said catch and adapted to be attracted by said exposed portion of the mag net to lock said catch in operative position.

2. The combination with an electric generator having a partially exposed field magnet, of a switch board adjacent thereto and having a guide, a spring retracted circuit closer movably mounted on said switch board, a spring retracted catch for locking said circuit closer in operative position, an armature adapted to be attracted by said exposed portion of the magnet and an operating connection between said armature and said catch and movably mounted in said guide, whereby said circuit closer may be held in operative position when the field magnet is energized.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALFRED \V. HOUCl-HN. Witnesses:

Grins. E. Lnnmco, L. I. HAINns.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

